Wire stretcher



J. U. TILFORD. WIRE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1.1921.

- Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

warren stares JAMES U. TILFORIE, OF NEAR- MEEK'ER, COLORADO.

WIRE STRETCHER.

Application filed. September 7, 1921.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JAMES U. TILroRD, citizen of the United States, residing iiear Meeker, in the county of Rio Blanco and State of Colorado, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers and it has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this nature by virtue of which wires may be drawn forcibly toward the posts to which they are to be secured, or by means of which the ends of two wires may be forcibly drawn toward each other for the purpose of effecting a splice.

Further objects and advantages of the 1nvention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

The figure shown in the accompanying drawing is an elevation of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention.

The device constituting the subject matter of the present invention comprises an operating lever 5 having a hand grasp 6. A clevis 7 is pivoted to the lever at 8. Chains 9 and 10 are connected to the opposite ends of the clevis, the chain 9 carrying a hook 11 and the chain 10 carrying a wire gripper 12 of an usual and well known construction adapted to grip a wire under the influence of a pull thereon. A second wire gripper 13 similar in construction to the wire gripper 12 is connected by a link let with that end of the clevis 7 to which the chain 9 is connected. An upper chain 15 is pivotally connected to the lever at 16 at a point above the pivot 8 and a lower chain 17 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever at 18. The chains 15 and 17 carry hooks 19 and 20, respectively, at their outer ends.

The operation of the device is as follows: If it be desired to draw the ends of two wires toward each other for the purpose of effecting a splice, the said wires are engaged by the grippers 12 and 13. The lever 5 is then rocked in one direction or the other. Assuming that this lever is swung toward the right the hook 19 will then be engaged in one of the links of the chain 10 after which the lever 5 will be swung back in the other direction, or to the left. This will create a pull upon the chain 10 and the gripper 12 through chain 15 and will create a slack in the chain 10, between the point at Serial No. 498,983.

which said chain is engaged by the hook l9 and the lever 8. The movement of the upper part of the lever 5 toward the left will swing its lower end toward the right and thus will render it possible to then engage the hook 20 with another of the links of chain 10 at a point further along in the length of the chain than the point at which the hook 19 is engaged with said chain. The lever is then swung back in the opposite direction. This operation is continued until the wire is drawn upon to the desired degree.

The chain 9 and hook 11 provide means for engaging about a post when it is desired to draw a wire toward a post. The operation thereafter is the same as that just described.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a wire stretcher is provided which is of an extremely simple nature and which may be manufactured at a very small cost.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that very simple and efficient means are provided for carrying out the objects of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention .is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination with a lever, of a clevis pivotally connected thereto at its center and projecting therebeyond in opposite direct-ions, chains extending in opposite direction from and connected to said clevis, wire grippers at the ends of said chains, a pair of chains pivotally connected to the lever above and below said clevis, and extending in the same direction, hooks at the outer ends of the last named chains for engaging one of the first named chains at varying points in its length.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 in combination with a second chain connected to that end of said clevis remote from said pair of chains and a hook at the extremity of the last named chain.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES U. TILFORD. Witnesses:

E. A. WILSON, L. B. WALBRIDGE. 5, .4 

